Kick to Come – The Gurgler on Rugby League

Welcome to our hopefully weekly wrap and look forward into the NRL.

ROUND 3 THOUGHTS

The Broncos put on some kind of show on Friday night, which is a good thing since Queensland has no choice but to watch the Broncos every Friday night. Anything would have been an improvement on the previous week’s game against the Sharks.

Whilst the Broncos have turned around the opening night pantsing by Souths, the Cowboys are looking worse, and their upcoming draw gives them little chance to turn it around. Games against Melbourne (H), Panthers (A), and Souths (A) aren’t the type of fixtures a team needs to turn things around. Not that they would beat any team in the NRL at the moment.

Maybe people are too hard on the Cowboys they aren’t the only team 0-3 in NRL history, but with their squad they should have got close to another Grand Final by now, instead of their annual controversial exit. And that exit could be helped by finishing in the Top 4, a feat that looks increasing unlikely, especially if they are 0-6 in three weeks time.

The Canberra – Dragons game was a shopping window into which coach will be the first sacked this year. Ricky Stuart is always a good chance with a lack of results and a unmatched grumpiness.

The Wests Tigers looked very good at times against Souths, and with their young squad could be the Penrith of 2014 surprise packets of 2015. Souths also showed why they are one of the front runners this year, as they did just enough to beat the Tigers. Dylan Walker was also inspirational playing with an injury for most of the match, a good sign of team harmony.

Two games had very ordinary video referee decisions this weekend as the Gold Coast and Panthers were hard done by with decisions against them. Whilst the decisions were early enough to fight back, it is an alarming effort form those involved and leaves fans with no faith in the system, and so early in the year it is not a good sign. More communications from the referees are needed including admitting when a mistake has been made, as with most things in life you can learn from mistakes, but like the NRL in most things, they rarely admit mistakes, and continue to make them.

More off field incidents also don’t help Maybe the NRL needs some fresh blood.

LOOKING FORWARD TO ROUND 4

Nice to have a Friday night free of the Broncos, Souths v Eels should provide plenty of action.

The smart rearranging of the NRL on Sunday is a great move by Channel 9 giving the lounge lizard another option for sloth on Sunday. Plus NZ v Broncos  games are always entertaining and tough, and without the rescheduling it’d be a Fox special.

Sharks v Titans is a real preview to the wooden spoon for 2015.

WANT SOME QUEENSLAND CUP NEWS? WANT MORE NRL NEWS?

Check out the Review of Qld Cup Round Three and more at Nothing But League. They do it much better than us.

NRL STATS AND STUFF